Soccer-World-My most satisfying moment, says Lippi

BERLIN, July  10 (Reuters) - Italy coach Marcello Lippi said winning the World Cup was the most satisfying moment of his life after his team beat France 5-3 in a shootout on Sunday. "I've won the Champions League and lots of Serie A titles but I've never felt anything like this, it is a completely different feeling."  Lippi said he was "convinced" that Italy would win the shootout because of the attitude his players took to penalties. "It takes a lot of determination and a lot of conviction in penalty shootouts -- it's not by chance. Our boys really wanted it and that's why they were able to put away all five," he said. The Italy coach conceded that his side had struggled in the second half of normal time.He said the moment he began to feel that his team could win the World Cup came after the win over Czech Republic which secured them top spot in Group E. "Then we beat Germany, in front of 60,000 of their fans. I always said that if you get to the semi-finals then anything can happen," said Lippi.
 

Explosion of joy in Rome as Italy win World Cup

ROME, July 10 (AFP) - Rome erupted in a damburst of joy, firecrackers, flags and tearful embraces as Italians celebrated their country's World Cup triumph after a nail-biting penalty shoot-out against France. In scenes echoed up and down the country, delirious supporters flocked into Piazza Venezia in the centre of the Italian capital to vent their delight and relief, scenes echoed in piazzas across Italy from Milan in the north to Messina in Sicily. Italy's 87-year-old President Giorgio Napolitano attended the final in Berlin with French President Jacques Chirac, and said Chirac had been the first to congratulate him.
 

No heart left in Domenech after World Cup defeat

BERLIN, July 10 (AFP) - France coach Raymond Domenech said he was too disappointed at France's penalty shootout defeat by Italy in the World Cup final on Sunday to take anything positive out of the match. "I don't have the heart to remember the good things right now. We deserved the title based over the whole match. Only victory is beautiful and we missed out just by a little thing. They played for the penalties because that was the only option for them." France's 1998 World Cup winning coach Aime Jacquet said he was doubly disappointed at the outcome. "Firstly I think that France played an excellent all round match. I thought that during the second-half and the extra-time that we were going to score because France was a lot more in evidence than the Italians physically and technically. However the Italians did what they know best and retreated and broke up the game."
 

Domenech says Materazzi provoked Zidane

BERLIN, July 10 (AFP) - France coach Raymond Domenech blamed Italian defender Marco Materazzi for provoking Zinedine Zidane into a headbutt which brought a memorable career to an infamous end in the World Cup final on Sunday. "Something happened, that's for sure," Domenech said. "I cannot imagine that Zidane wanted to be sent off. "Materrazzi is the man of the match, not Andrea Pirlo. He scored and he got Zidane sent off." Domenech said that Zidane was the victim of rough treatment from his Italian opponents throughout the final. "When one has to put up with what he had to for 80 minutes and the referee doesn't do anything, one understands. You can't excuse it but you can understand it. "To see him finish his career in this way is sad. He has had a great career and a great World Cup."  Domenech also claimed that Zidane had been sent off after the fourth official had seen the incident on video and informed referee Horacio Elizondo. Franz Beckenbauer, the World Cup chief organiser, agreed that Materazzi must have insulted Zidane to cause him to react in such a manner. "Something must have been said to Zidane. He is actually a reserved and inoffensive person," Beckenbauer said adding that Zidane's dismissal had cost France dear. "We know how sensitive the French are when they lose their captain." Former France coach Michel Hidalgo defended Zidane after he was sent off for the 12th time in his career. "When you know him, you know that they must have been very cruel words for him to react like that," Hidalgo said.
 

We won together, we lost together says 'leader' Henry

BERLIN, July 10 (AFP) -  Thierry Henry said that despite losing the World Cup final on penalties to Italy he and his fellow France players could leave Germany with their heads held high four years after he and several of the others exited in shame after their defence of the title ended in the first round. "To go out on penalties is hard to accept. No one expected us to get so far," said Henry.  "We'd started the competition from so far off the pace that to make it to the final isn't bad at all," added the Arsenal striker. "I'm very proud. We won together and we lost together, that's what we've got to remember. "On Zidane's loss of temper the striker added: "After what Zidane's done for the national team you have to say thank you and bravo."  Teammate William Gallas believed that even "after Zidane's red card we knew we could still put them in danger. "But unfortunately it didn't work out, it's a pity as everyone could see we were better than them," the Chelsea star said. Gallas' fellow defender Willy Sagnol paid tribute to Zidane, Lilian Thuram and Claude Makelele who are all retiring from international football after having come back out of it last year to help France qualify. "I say thank you to them for what they've done but now we've got to try and get by without them."

Ronaldo says he wants to leave England

LISBON, July 9 (AFP) - Manchester United's Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo, a hate figure in England after his involvement in Wayne Rooney's sending-off at the World Cup, said Saturday he wants to leave the country. "To be honest it is difficult to stay in England after they way they have treated me because I didn't hurt anyone," he told Portugal's SIC television. "They are making a big deal out of nothing and I don't know why. It's difficult to live in a country where they practically don't want me. In the coming two or three days I will reach a decision," he added.
 

Portuguese striker Pauleta announces international retirement

LISBON, July 9, 2006 (AFP) - Portuguese striker Pedro Pauleta announced Saturday that he was ending his international career after his side lost the World Cup third-place playoff 3-1 against Germany. "It's a very difficult moment because I expected to end by scoring once again but that wasn't possible," he  said in comments broadcast on SIC television. The World Cup third-place playoff was a day of international farewells. Portugal great Luis Figo and Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn also played their last matches for their country.
 

Klinsmann 'too emotional' to decide future

STUTTGART, July 9 (AFP) - Germany manager Jurgen Klinsmann said he was overcome with emotion after the hosts secured third place at the World Cup with a 3-1 win over Portugal here on Saturday and emphasised that he needed time and a clear head to decide his future. Klinsmann's contract has now expired and the German Football Federation are desperate for him to continue until Euro 2008.

Rooney gets two-match ban; Cufre banned for four matches

BERLIN, July 8 (AP) _ Striker Wayne Rooney was suspended for two competitive international matches and fined 5,000 Swiss francs (US$4,085) by a FIFA disciplinary panel that reviewed his ejection from England's World Cup quarterfinal loss to Portugal. Rooney was given a red card for stomping on a Portugal player. He denied it was intentional. In other punishments announced Saturday by FIFA, two Argentina players were suspended for their parts in a skirmish that followed their quarterfinal loss to Germany. Leandro Cufre was banned for four matches and fined 10,000 Swiss francs (US$8,170) and Maxi Rodriguez was suspended for two matches and fined 5,000 Swiss francs (US$4,085). Germany's Torsten Frings missed the World Cup semifinal loss to Italy because of a suspension stemming from the same incident.

Report: Michael Owen criticizes Eriksson over lone striker strategy

LONDON, July 8 (AP) _ Michael Owen says Sven-Goran Eriksson's decision to play Wayne Rooney as a lone striker contributed to England's exit from the World Cup against Portugal. The Sun reported Saturday that the Newcastle striker believes Rooney's frustration at not getting enough support up front played a part in his eventual sending off following a foul on Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho. ``Wayne Rooney is one of the best strikers in the world and you're cutting one of his legs off if you're playing just one up front,'' Owen said.

WORLD CUP SOCCER: Lippi suggests Azzurri are 'hungrier' than France

DUISBURG, Germany, July 8 (AP)_ Winning the World Cup final is based on desire, or ``hunger'' as Italy coach Marcello Lippi says. France still has fresh memories of winning the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship. Italy hasn't won any major trophies since its last World Cup title in 1982. ``Tomorrow we're going to sit down at a lavishly prepared table and see who has more hunger,'' Lippi says.

Organisers confident World Cup final will be played on Sunday

BERLIN, July 8 (AFP) - The World Cup organisers said they were confident the final between France and Italy would go ahead in the Olympic Stadium here on Sunday despite storms in the German capital on Friday. There is the possibility of rain and possibly a thunderstorm during the course of the afternoon but it should be calmer by the time the final kicks off at 8:00 pm (1800 GMT), organising committee spokesman Gerd Graus said. The temperature is forecast to be at around 25 degrees Celsius. The pitch at the stadium had not been covered, he added. "There was a lot of rain, but the pitch is in the condition to absorb it."There is no reason to cover it. In these kind of temperatures, covering the grass would actually have harmed it."  FIFA spokesman Markus Siegler said that in the event of a major storm during the match which put the safety of players and spectators at risk, the organisers would decide whether to delay the kickoff until later in the evening, or even until Monday. The German capital was hit by a major thunderstorm on Friday evening after days of uncustomary hot weather and the heavy rain continued into Saturday morning.
 

Podolski named best young player

BERLIN, July 7 (AFP) - Germany's Lukas Podolski was named by FIFA on Friday as the World Cup's best young player. He won the award ahead of the other nominees, Lionel Messi of Argentina, Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, Luis Valencia of Ecuador, Tranquilo Barnetta of Switzerland and Cesc Fabregas of Spain.
 

Soccer-Zidane short-listed for Golden Ball award

BERLIN, July 6 (Reuters) Zinedine Zidane, the France playmaker who will end his career in the World Cup final against Italy on Sunday in Berlin, has been short-listed for the prestigious FIFA Golden Ball award. The prize is awarded to the most valuable player in the 32-team tournament. The decision will be announced on Monday. Of the 10 nominees, four are Italian and three French. The nominations are: Fabio Cannavaro (Italy), Maniche (Portugal), Michael Ballack (Germany), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy), Thierry Henry (France), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Patrick Vieira (France), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Zinedine Zidane (France).

Soccer-Three revellers dead in French World Cup celebrations

PARIS, July 6, 2006 (AFP) Three French revellers died and a fourth was feared drowned after more than half a million football fans took to the streets early Thursday to celebrate their side's qualification for the World Cup final and a 1-0 victory over Portugal, courtesy of a Zinedine Zidane penalty. The situation turned unruly in the small hours in Paris, Lyon and Zidane's home city of Marseille, where police used teargas to disperse groups of youths, arresting 189 people in Paris alone. Several people were seriously injured in brawls and traffic accidents as well as the three confirmed dead. In central Paris, an 18-year-old man was crushed to death as he tried to jump between the roofs of two metro trains at Opera station, police said. Also in Paris, a young woman died of her injuries following a motorbike accident -- she was riding as a passenger when the driver lost control of his bike and ploughed into a crowd, injuring three other people. The rider was also hospitalised in a serious condition, police said. In the northern town of Lens, a 20-year-old woman was killed in a car accident minutes after the French win, police said. She had been leaning out of the car window to celebrate, and was crushed when the driver veered off the road to avoid a pedestrian. And a young man was also missing feared drowned in the southeastern city of Lyon after jumping off a bridge into the River Saone with a group of friends.

Italy are tops says Thuram

MUNICH, July 6 (AFP) - France will be going up against the best team in the tournament when they take on Italy in the World Cup final on Sunday, according to defender Lilian Thuram. France's record cap winner, who plays his club football for Juventus, said after his side defeated Portugal 1-0 late Wednesday to set up the match in Berlin, that he has feared the Italians from the start of the finals.It's going to be a tough game against Italy. They are without doubt the best team in the tournament," the 34-year-old said. "From the start I thought they would go far as they are a very homogenous group of players. You can sense their solidarity. "Once upon a time there were too many big egos in the Italian team, but now they work for each other and it is going to be very difficult for us."
 

Figo says Portugal fought all the way, deserved a final place

MUNICH, July 6 (AFP) - Portugal star Luis Figo reflected on the thin line between success and failure after a penalty by former Real Madrid clubmate Zinedine Zidane sent France through to the World Cup final 1-0 at his own country's expense. "We are very disappointed. I thought we deserved a better result than this," said Figo, who had a golden opportunity to make it 1-1 but his second-half header after Fabien Barthez comically dropped the ball went over the bar. "We had more control of the game but we couldn't put away our chances. It is a pity for us as we so wanted a place in the final."On the penalty it was hard for me to judge - I couldn't see from where I was. Maybe the referee had a better view.   "We also might have had a penalty - but at the end of the day the team that makes least mistakes wins," said the veteran.
 

Domenech hails master Zidane

MUNICH, July 6, 2006 (AFP) - Coach Raymond Domenech hailed the contribution made by Zinedine Zidane in firing France into the World Cup final in what will be the midfield master's last match before retirement. "Zidane is a world champion, his photograph adorns a wall in Marseille, he's a true star, a true star in the sense that he brings something to this team and enables the French public to go on dreaming," purred Domenech. "But it's been that way for years." He added: "This game really is his last, people were talking about other games here could be his final one, now it's actually arrived. "But for me I'm not regarding it as Zidane's last match. "For me it's the World Cup final, and he regards it like that as well, he doesn't see it as his swansong. "It's the World Cup final, and even better.... it's against Italy. "We shouldn't mix things up, he would agree with that - he's proved that throughout this whole competition."  "Portugal put us in more difficulty than Brazil, it was harder at every level. They gave us lots of problems right to the end, congratulations to them for that." "For me there have been two exploits at this World Cup. Ours, in beating Brazil, and Italy's in beating Germany in Dortmund. That was an exploit accomplished with style, bravo I say, I take my hat off to them.  "Now we have a date together - July 9, at eight o'clock (1800 GMT)."
 

Portugal can be proud, says philosophical Scolari

MUNICH, July 6 (AFP) - Luiz Felipe Scolari says Portugal can be proud of its football team despite their agonising loss to France. Scolari had no qualms about the penalty decision, and was philosophical about the defeat. "We did everything possible but if you don't score you don't win," said the Brazilian, who for the first time in three major tournaments failed to take his side to the final. He warned Italy they will have their work cut out against France in the final in Berlin on Sunday, while paying tribute to his players who matched Portugal's best ever World Cup campaign. "I don't believe France were the better team. it was a balanced match. But France are an excellent team, a team with a lot of capacity and ability and they did enough to reach the final," he said.  "I now need to work with the players. We had a dream and we were nearly there but we have another match now - for third place in the World Cup, which should also be an interesting game. "On Saturday we will have new difficulties and we must work on a strategy to beat Germany. We need to gather strength." Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, who traveled to Munich to watch the match, joined in the tributes. "I think the team did a lot for Portugal's international prestige and we are indebted to them for this. I am very proud of this squad and I am sure all Portuguese people are as well," he told private television SIC after the game. Disappointed captain Luis Figo said:  "We are very disappointed. I thought we deserved a better result than this," said the 33-year-old, who will make his last appearance in a Portuguese strip in the clash with Germany. "We had more control of the game but we couldn't put away our chances. It is a pity for us as we so wanted a place in the final.   "I am proud of the team and we want to finish off with a win over Germany."

July 5 (Reuters) - Final score in the World Cup semi-final match between Portugal and France in Munich on Wednesday:

Soccer-World-Sleepless Lippi proud of his Italy

DUISBURG, Germany, July 5 (Reuters) - "I'm tired, I just slept two hours because I wanted to watch the whole game again, including extra time," - Italy coach Marcello Lippi told a news conference on Wednesday. "It was a very important victory, probably the most important of my career -- apart from Sunday's of course," Lippi said. Lippi took a big gamble in extra time when he took off two midfielders and brought on strikers Vincenzo Iaquinta and Alessandro Del Piero and he said there had been a number of factors behind that tactical move. Immediately after the game Lippi said that he had been keen to avoid the 'lottery' of a penalty shootout, fearing that Italy would have struggled to win such a contest. But on Wednesday he said that he had responded to the way the game had opened up as the players tired after a high-tempo 90 minutes. "In the final stages the game became split between attack and defence and it was end-to-end. Now our defence is pretty good and we have a good keeper behind them so I wanted to find some quality in attack. Also with those players on the field we had a decent number of good penalty takers," said Lippi.

Germany licks wounds after nail-biter loss to Italy at World Cup

BERLIN, July 5 (AFP) - Germany on Wednesday wept bitter tears over the 0-2 loss to Italy at the football World Cup but took heart in the host nation's surprisingly long run. "It's a pity. It was a great game," said Chancellor Angela Merkel, who sat next to Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi in the Dortmund stands Tuesday night for the semi-final match. "Unfortunately it wasn't quite enough. But this team can still accomplish a lot." The top-selling Bild newspaper also tried for a glass-half-full view with the banner headline "We are crying with you! You are still heroes" around a giant photo of Klinsmann, head in hands. President Horst Koehler told the newspaper that Germans must try to sustain the new-found patriotism they discovered during the tournament, when for the first time since the war waving German flags and singing the national anthem were accepted as natural gestures of healthy national pride. "We are on the right track toward standing up for ourselves and taking pride in what we have achieved since 1945," he said. "The Germans identify with this country and its national colors. I think that is terrific."

German fans damage Italian restaurants after semi-final defeat

BERLIN, July 5 (AFP) - German fans vandalised Italian restaurants and torched garbage bins after the host nation was defeated by Italy in the World Cup semi-finals, police said on Wednesday. In the central town of Quedlinburg, some 25 fans stormed into an Italian restaurant and knocked over chairs and tables after Italy won 2-0 late in extra-time on Tuesday. In Stendal, also in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, some 40 German fans targetted an Italian ice cream parlour and in nearby Magdeburg, they ripped the flowerboxes off the windows of an Italian restaurant. The police said 150 troublemakers torched garbage bins and smashed bottles in Hoyerswerda in the eastern state of Saxony. In the western city of Zweibruecken a brawl broke out between about 200 people, but nobody was seriously injured. Twelve people were arrested.

Soccer-Germany’s coach Klinsmann says we are hugely disappointed

DORTMUND, July 4 (Reuters) Germany’s coach Juergen Klinsmann said it was a huge disappointment to lose 2-0 against Italy after extra time in the World Cup semi-final on Tuesday. "We are hugely disappointed (but) you can only compliment the team, they're a young team. It's amazing the spirit they showed, the character. They made a whole country really proud." "Congratulations to Italy for getting to the final. That's how it goes, that's what makes football so fascinating," he added after German hearts were broken by two late goals.
 

Soccer-Germany’s Ballack terms match defeat “very bitter”

DORTMUND, July 4 (Reuters) If heroism in football is about seizing the moment, Germany captain Michael Ballack could not quite live up to the role on Tuesday as he let a second chance of playing in a World Cup final slip through his grasp. "It's not that Italy didn't deserve to win," he told reporters after the match. "But it is very bitter." Ballack was close to tears when asked if Tuesday's defeat felt more bitter than four years ago, the midfielder offering no reply as he trudged away.
 

Soccer-We can still be proud, says Germany's Klose

DORTMUND, July 4 (Reuters) Striker Miroslav Klose said Germany could still be proud of their side despite a last-gasp 2-0 defeat by Italy in the World Cup semi-final on Tuesday. I think we can still be proud of this team. We have a lot of young players and I think we have a future," said Klose after the match. "Both sides had shots on goal and chances to decide the match, but my compliments to the Italians. They played hard and scored a nice goal," he added.
 

Soccer-Italy’s coach Lippi pins win on midfield dominance

DORTMUND, July 4 (Reuters) Italy coach Marcello Lippi hailed midfield superiority and a fear of the penalty shootout as the keys to his team's stunning 2-0 win over hosts Germany in the semi-final of the World Cup on Tuesday.  Late goals in extra time from defender Fabio Grosso and striker Alessandro Del Piero, a late substitute, put paid to Germany's hopes of a place in the final on Sunday. What did it, said a delighted Lippi, was a combination of packing the midfield and leaving Francesco Totti behind a lone striker and then taking two midfielders off early in extra time to finish with four forwards. "It would have been an injustice not to win or to go on to penalties and a game of Russian roulette," Lippi said. He added: "We were the better side and I don't think any German could say otherwise."
 

Soccer-Grosso becomes Italy's unlikely hero

DORTMUND, July 4 (Reuters) Defender Fabio Grosso, who was playing fourth division football only five years ago, was struggling to take in the fact that he had booked Italy into the World Cup final after Tuesday's 2-0 win over Germany. Grosso, who won the last-minute penalty that secured Italy's passage into the second round against Australia, went one better by firing a superb curling shot past Jens Lehmann at the end of extra time to give Italy the lead in the semi-final against Germany. "When I saw it go in, it was such a big emotional rush - and I was glad to share it with all my team mates,” he told reporter adding that  "I can't find the words at the moment. I'm very happy, as we all are. We're in the final. It's a dream, and bit by bit it's coming true.”
 

Soccer-Italy's Pirlo named Man of the Match

July 4 (Reuters) Andrea Pirlo of Italy was named Man of the Match by FIFA's Technical Study Group after his performance in the 2-0 win over Germany in the World Cup semi-final in Dortmund on Tuesday.

July 4 (Reuters) - Final in the World Cup semi-final match between Germany and Italy in Dortmund on Tuesday.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter supports changes to booking system

BERLIN, July 4 (AP) _ FIFA president Sepp Blatter supports a new booking system that would allow players to receive three yellow cards in a round at the World Cup before they're suspended for a match. With record numbers of red and yellow cards handed out at this World Cup, Blatter said Tuesday it was a ``very wise suggestion'' to amend the existing rules that impose a one-match suspension on players who pick up two cautions across the first round or two in the knockout stage.

Soccer-Roberto Carlos retires from Brazil team

BERLIN, July 4, (AFP) One of the Brazil's top stars, defender Roberto Carlos, has announced he is retiring from international football following his country's World Cup quarter-final defeat against France. "My days playing with the national side are over," the Real Madrid wing-back said on his personal website. "It's time to move on and I hope I can hand over the number six shirt to someone else who can continue to win for our country.” Roberto Carlos won 125 caps for Brazil after winning his first selection in a 3-0 win over the United States on February 26, 1992 and he played in the 2-0 win over Germany in the 2002 World Cup final.
 

Frings suspended for World Cup semifinal match against Italy

BERLIN, July 3 (AP) _ Germany midfielder Torsten Frings was banned from the World Cup semifinals after a FIFA disciplinary committee found him guilty of punching Argentina forward Julio Cruz in a post-match fracas in the quarterfinals. The 29-year-old Frings was banned for two matches _ with one suspended for six months _ and fined 5,000 Swiss francs (euro3,190; US$4,075). That means Frings can return for either the World Cup final or the third-place playoff, but has a six-month probation period when any other kind of misconduct means he will have to serve the balance of punishment.

Germany momentum will take some stopping says Klinsmann

BERLIN, July 3 (AFP) - Jurgen Klinsmann says hosts Germany have built up enough momentum to overcome Italy in Tuesday's World Cup semi-final and delight the home fans by winning the title for the fourth time. "I believe the confidence that we have built over the last six weeks is enough to win the next two games and become world champions," Klinsmann said at Monday's press conference. Italy, like Germany, have won three World Cups and Klinsmann expects a tough match in Dortmund.

FIFA suspends Greece from competition

BERLIN, July 3 (AFP) - FIFA Monday announced that they had suspended the Greek Football Federation (HFF) for allowing political involvement in their running of the sport. The suspension means that Greece, the reigning European champions, will be suspended from all international football until further notice.

Soccer-World-Father of shootouts puts Swiss and English on spot

BERLIN, July 3 (Reuters) - The man who first introduced the penalty shootout to soccer  in 1970 had harsh words on Monday for two recently ousted World Cup teams, saying Switzerland and England had failed to do his invention justice. "They are complete losers, even a school team would have had better shots than the Swiss," said 90-year-old Karl Wald, a former  referee, in an interview with Reuters television. "It was a disappointment that something like that happened, even for me." He was slightly easier on the English."I don't understand that  -- were they nervous?" he asked. Wald introduced the idea in Germany in 1970, and it was first used during the now-defunct Watney Cup that same year.  One World Cup final in 1994 has been decided by a shootout with Brazil beating Italy. "I am happy that we have penalties now, of course. Everyone is enthusiastic and no one is against it," said Wald. "The way it is now is exactly how I imagined."

Platini disappointed by World Cup football

BERLIN, July 3 (AFP) - Former French star Michel Platini has said he is disappointed with the standard of football shown at the World Cup. "There have been some good matches and some not so good, but in general I think the standard of football has not been particularly high," he said in comments to German football magazine Kicker. Platini singled out Brazilian star Ronaldinho, the world player of the year, who he said had been way below his best in his country's games in Germany. He also took aim at the World Cup referees who he accused of being too ready to hand out yellow and red cards. "Football is a man's game and it suprises me that as soon as there is the smallest of fouls, a yellow card is brandished," he said.
 

Beckham quits as England captain

BADEN-BADEN, July 2, 2006 (AFP) - David Beckham resigned as England captain here Sunday following his side's World Cup quarter-final exit to Portugal. Beckham was close to tears as he read from a prepared statement at England's training camp to confirm his decision to step down. He said he hoped to continue as a player for England, but not as captain.
 

Brazil defender Lucio breaks record for most minutes without a foul

FRANKFURT, Germany, July 2  (AP) _ Lucio set a record for the most minutes without committing a foul at the World Cup in Brazil's quarterfinal match against France on Saturday. Lucio was not called for a foul in Brazil's first four matches and did not concede one until the 26th minute of his team's match against France, making it 386 minutes without giving up a free kick. The defender's first foul at the tournament came when he tackled France striker Thierry Henry. He received a yellow card in the 75th after another foul on Henry. Lucio entered the match needing 23 minutes to surpass the mark set by Paraguay defender Carlos Gamarra, who in 1998 spent 383 minutes without allowing a free kick. Gamarra played four matches and an additional 23 minutes of extra time without committing a foul in 1998. He also didn't get called in four games in 2002. Brazil had  conceded  only one goal in Germany _ against Japan in the first round _ before Henry struck the winning goal on Saturday. Only witzerland, which was eliminated by Ukraine on penalty kicks in the second round, did not concede a goal at this World Cup.
 

Brazil admit being outplayed by France

FRANKFURT, July 2 (AP) _ “France is a team very good technically. They came well set up and were very patient,'' Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said. ”They deserved to win.'' “It's a sad day for us, though we will overcome this,'' said striker Ronaldo, who leaves the World Cup as the tournament's all-time leading scorer with 15 goals. ``They played better and deserved the victory.'' “Zidane is a player we knew well ... he created a lot of trouble,'' Parreira said. ``He played very well and gave the decisive pass to Henry.'' “He's a great player and had a great match. It was unfortunate to us that he played this well today,'' Brazil midfielder Kaka added. Parreira made two changes to Brazil's lineup, putting an end to the ``magic quartet'' scheme in which he began the competition.  Midfielder Juninho replaced striker Adriano, moving Ronaldinho up to attack alongside Ronaldo. The changes failed, allowing France to have most of the scoring opportunities from the start. Only against Japan, when Parreira fielded five reserve players to rest some of the regular starters, was Brazil able to display some of the flair many expect from the five-time champion. “That was the right decision for that match,'' Parreira said. ”We can't assume that if I had played the same team again we would've won it.''
 

England players devastated by another failure

GELSENKIRCHEN, July 2 (AFP) - England's players were inconsolable Saturday, knowing they should have done better after crashing out of the World Cup to Portugal on penalties. Veteran Gary Neville, who took over the captaincy when David Beckham went off injured, said everyone was bitterly disappointed. "We did everything in the match, we couldn't have done any more.”It is difficult to know what to say tonight. We had chances when we were down to 10 men but we couldn't put them away." Peter Crouch, who came on in his place, described the loss on penalties as devastating. Crouch blamed the failure of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher to convert their penalties on tiredness. "I'm sure they'll be criticism that we don't practice them but I can assure you that we do practice them all the time, this week, this month," he said. Coach Eriksson was finding it hard to accept defeat. "We did not deserve to lose, we did very well," Eriksson said. "We have practised penalties so much, I don't know what we can do about it."I was sure these players could get to the final and we should have done it."
 

Henry and Domenech salute France

FRANKFURT, July 2 (AFP) - Goalscorer Thierry Henry and coach Raymond Domenech saluted the achievement of France after their 1-0 win over holders Brazil in their World Cup quarter-final here  Saturday. "Sometimes you just can't put into words what happens. I made every tackle, I jumped up and down, I kicked every ball along with the team. I am exhausted but immensely happy," Domenech said. "I must savour the moment. Only football can give you such great moments."  Henry, who struck from close range shortly before the hour mark, volleying in following a  Zidane free-kick, said the win more than made up for the disastrous French defence of their title in 2002 when they bowed out goalless in the first round. "I said before that we were not here to dream, but tonight is what dreams are made of," said the 28-year-old.  Zidane's face was wreathed in smiles after once again postponing his imminent retirement. "This is huge," gushed the hero of the French triumph in 1998 - at the Brazilians' expense. "We had to put in a huge performance and we did so. We had to hold it together defensively. "We deserve our victory. Now we will try and get into the final as we do not want it to end here."
 

England fans disperse quietly after World Cup exit

GELSENKIRCHEN, July 2 (AFP) - German police arrested 50 English and German fans in this western German city on Saturday as England crashed out of the World Cup in a penalty shootout against Portugal. The fans were arrested for minor offences, mainly related to drunkenness, although there were minor scuffles, police said. England's fans either digested the result quietly in pubs or bars in Gelsenkirchen or caught trains to their accommodation in neighbouring cities in the industrial Ruhr valley. England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson paid tributes to the supporters saying: "We gave a good performance but we're out and that's very painful. I'm sorry for the fans, who have been fantastic, that we couldn't give them a Final."
 

Zidane gives Brazil more World Cup nightmares with virtuoso show

FRANKFURT, July 2 (AFP) - German football legend Franz Beckenbauer declared that Zidane was one of the greatest players of all-time and he left few doubters after his virtuoso performance Saturday. "I would like to know why he wants to stop when he is as good now as he was four years ago. If he plays this well, he should carry on," said the 60-year-old German great. For Brazilian great Pele "Zidane was the magician." With Brazil now out of the tournament, no South American team has won a World Cup in Europe since young Pele's Brazilians won in Sweden in 1958.
 

Zidane slays Brazil a second time, say Brazilian media

BRASILIA, July 2 (AFP) - "The executioner Zidane makes Brazil cry for a second time," was how Brazil's media saw Saturday's quarter-final World Cup defeat by France. Zidane destroyed the South Americans in the 1998 final in Paris. This time in Frankfurt, while not getting on the scoresheet as he had done twice in Paris in 1998, "Zizou" helped set up the only goal for Thierry Henry to take Les Bleus into the last four. "Brazil go out of the Cup playing sad football," said the online version of Lance sports daily.  Folha Online saluted Zidane. "Again Zidane stood foursquare in our way with France." Three-time champion Pele was meanwhile critical of an unadventurous Brazilian team. "Brazil started off quite well but they let it slip through their hands," Pele told German broadcaster ZDF. "In the main, this was down to one magical player who held sway over the match - Zinedine Zidane."   Noting that Brazil's backline was caught out by Henry sneaking round behind them, Pele was outraged. "These are mistakes which shouldn't happen. I don't know what the players were thinking of."
 

Violence mars World Cup celebrations in France

PARIS, July 2, 2006 (AFP) - Violent incidents marred French street celebrations early Sunday following France's 1-0 win over World Cup champions Brazil, with police firing teargas at bottle-hurling youths in central Paris. Police said some people sustained injuries after being hit by flying bottles and other projectiles along the French capital's famous Champs-Elysees where there were 20 arrests. At least two vehicles were torched in the violence, which broke out after two hours of peaceful celebrations on the street between the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde. Dozens of youths hurled bottles, stones and other projectiles at police who responded with teargas. The windows of a McDonald's fast-food restaurant at the top of the Champs were smashed and parked cars overturned. One group attacked a car near the Arc de Triomphe, battering it with stones before setting it ablaze. A scooter was also torched. There was also trouble in the southern port town of Marseille, where riot police clashed with gangs of youths and resorted to teargas shelling.
 

Portugal want more than just a semi-final

GELSENKIRCHEN, July 2 (AFP) - Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari isn't content just taking Portugal to the World Cup semi-finals. He wants to make history and bring the trophy home to the country of barely 10 million people. "Its been more difficult to reach a semi-final with Portugal than the final with Brazil. Also 50 percent of the players in Portugal are foreigners. Brazils traditions make certain games easier to win too. But now we have a chance to create history for Portugal."  Scolari hailed his latest team's fighting spirit that saw them emerge victorious. "It proved once again that the players as a group want to fight for each other. We are progressing because the players have added a new warrior spirit to what they already had which was quality." Portugal have four days off before lining up against France in Munich on Wednesday after a Thierry Henry goal sent the French through against defending champions Brazil in an upset result. "The four days give us a chance for our injured players Figo and Ronaldo to recover."

July 1 (Reuters) - Final result from the World Cup quarter-final match between Brazil and France in Frankfurt on Saturday.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring the winning penalty during the penalty shootout in the World Cup 2006 quarter-final soccer match between England and Portugal in Gelsenkirchen July 1, 2006.